Do People Dislike Your Emails?

Have you ever wondered how your colleagues feel about the interoffice emails you send? Probably not, as most people who send emails are concerned with the content and nothing else. According to Jennifer Holloway of Assistant Edge, how people feel about your emails often indicates how they feel about you, so maybe it's time to give the topic some thought. Here are three things many professionals dislike about some of the interoffice emails they receive.

1. Carbon Copy

When you send interoffice emails to co-workers inquiring about a looming project or important client, do you carbon copy every manager in the office? If so, co-workers and managers probably roll their eyes each time they see your name appear in their inboxes. Most people adopt this practice to keep managers in the loop and to cover their tails just in case something goes awry. However, this is not the best strategy, as it feeds a culture of fear and might make your co-workers think you don't trust them. Also, a manager who doesn't micromanage employees might not want you cluttering up his inbox with information that doesn't directly involve him.

As long as you have a copy of the email with stamped date and time information, there's nothing more you need to do to cover your tail. When sending work-related emails, only carbon copy colleagues who are directly involved with the client or project, unless your boss requires otherwise.

2. Odd Email Hours

Do you normally work late hours and send interoffice emails long after everyone has left the office? Or do you send work-related emails to colleagues in the middle of the night from your home? If so, your co-workers might dislike the fact that you send emails at such odd hours, and some might even think you're simply trying to show off. If you're a hard worker who goes above and beyond the call of duty, your managers and colleagues will notice. Therefore, you don't have to make any bold gestures, such as emailing important advertising data at 3:00 a.m., to let everyone know you're on the job. It's always best to send emails during normal work hours, when most of your colleagues are at the office and will likely see the email right away.

3. Fancy, Lengthy Email Signatures

What does your interoffice email signature look like? Is it filled with long quotes from famous people, flashing pictures or preachy messages? Does it list every single degree you have or link to all of your social media pages? Is your signature typically longer than the email itself? If your answer to any of these questions is "yes," you might want to tone your email signature down a bit. Flashy, lengthy email signatures are often considered an annoyance. Some might even consider them unprofessional. Your name, professional title and basic contact information should suffice. If you must add something else, a very short, simple, funny or inspirational quote is okay.

It's always important to consider how your workmates might perceive your interoffice emails. Doing so can keep you from offending or annoying your manager or colleagues unintentionally.

Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net